Review of Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (2009) by Dustin D — 25 Jan 2011

This is a film I've been putting off for a while but it's one I had an interest in seeing. After hearing about the performances from Mo'Nique and Gabby (I'm not going to try to spell her last name so I'm being simple), and hearing an interview with the director, I was curious.

This is a very good, powerful and disturbing film. There were scenes here that made me sick to my stomach, while at the same times there were scenes that put the movie off track. I think I know what they were going for with the fantasy sequences, but I felt it kind of hindered the movie a lot. Yeah she dreams of that life but don't we all. However, what we see in the movie, Precious is never going to achieve that. It's unfortunate but I felt those scenes weren't really needed.

However, everything else was gripping and heart pounding. From the powerful scenes of the abusive mother (The scene were she brings home the new Baby is probably one of the most disturbing things I've seen in film this year, rivaling Black Swan but for completely different reasons) to her learning to read and being supportive by Ms. Rain and the others. Gabby gives a great performance here, and I actually thought it was so much better than Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side (Which I also liked). Mo'Nique was powerful here too even though her emotional breakdown at the end almost seemed too darn fake. I didn't really like Carey in the movie too much, as she looked disinterested in the whole thing. Not a very good casting choice.

Still, this is a powerful and disturbing film, and I'm glad I finally saw it.